Gleneagles event put on ice

Last updated: 20th December 2012

The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles has been left off the 2014 European Tour calendar due to the Ryder Cup, but it will return in 2015.

The tournament was due to take place in August, but with Gleneagles hosting the Ryder Cup a month later organisers have decided it is important to focus on preparations for the biennial event with both the European Tour and Gleneagles' owners agreeing to postpone it for 12 months.

"We are very grateful to the management of both Diageo, the owners of Johnnie Walker, and The Gleneagles Hotel for agreeing to postpone the Johnnie Walker Championship so that preparations for the Ryder Cup can begin as planned in July 2014," said European Ryder Cup director Richard Hills.

"The magnitude of the Ryder Cup is such that trying to host the Johnnie Walker Championship in the same season would have compromised both events."

Keith Waters, chief operating officer and director of international policy for the European Tour, added: "We looked at rescheduling the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles to an earlier week on the 2014 schedule but a suitable date could not be found.

"But we are delighted all parties have agreed to reschedule the Championship for 2015."

Gleneagles will host the 40th Ryder Cup from September 26-28 with Europe looking to defend the trophy they won at Medinah earlier this year.